News

September 12, 2007

Teamwork Nets $10,000 Powerball Prize

For a group of customer service representatives who work together every day, it was only natural that they pool their resources as a Lottery players group and purchase tickets for Powerball together. The strategy for these eight co-workers at Scholastic in Jefferson City was to be in the game, and it paid dividends when they matched four white-ball numbers and the Powerball number on Sept. 8 to win $10,000. The group has won smaller prizes before and used the winnings to purchase more tickets, but on their largest win to date, each will collect $1,250 before taxes.
Their team is one of two players groups at the business where they work. They say their smaller group is easier to manage and means a bigger share when they win. The group consists of: Sharon Ragsdale, Alberta Spencer and Linda Jackson, all of Jefferson City; Pamela Phillips of Centertown; Elizabeth Muenks of Linn; Linda Taylor-Carter of Holts Summit; Hallie Spears of Gravois Mills; and Bobbi White of Fulton.
The team takes turns collecting money and buying tickets each week, and it was Sharon who was on duty when the winning ticket was purchased. She bought the Quick Pick ticket at Gerbes, 2101 Schott Hill Woods Road in Jefferson City. Their winning numbers were 12, 28, 30 and 48, and the Powerball number was 40. Had they matched one more number, they would have won the jackpot of $15 million, which all agreed would be plenty.
"And, we’d all retire," claimed Spears. "All at once. We’d all walk in and say, ’bye’."
As for plans for their windfall, about half mentioned home projects or boat repair, and the others were satisfied knowing Christmas would be taken care of. One thing is certain, however- that this team will continue to work together in hopes that winning becomes a habit.
"We’re ready for the big one," said Taylor-Carter. "This is the carrot, we’re the rabbits." Powerball is played in 29 states, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. Jackpots start at $15 million and are drawn every Wednesday and Saturday nights.